Newsletter - October 2019

Three Institutions and their contributions: SDSN, SRC and SDG Academy
By Dr.Sanjay Banerji
Founder Director/Dean of Amrita School of Business


Dear Friends,
This month, I plan to briefly connect you with 3 institutions, all of them being my source of studies in the field of sustainable development, through MOOCs. First, the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) https://www.unsdsn.org/

TirthaYatra, Pilgrimage to Holy Places
By C.Rangarajan, Chennai

Sri Rabindranath Tagore, in his work “Sadhana” writes – ‘India chose her places of pilgrimage, wherever there was in nature some special grandeur at beauty, as that her mind could come out of its world of narrow necessities and realize its place in the Infinite’.
Sanatana Dharma has put a great emphasis on the sanctity of certain places and has recommended her followers to pursue pilgrimage to such holy places. Pilgrimage:


Solid Waste Management


Oath cum Awareness programme:
Twooath cum awareness programmes were conucted in the Municipality viz. Agnitheertham (02nd October), and Arichal Munai (04th October).
Mr. K. Veera Raghava Rao - Disctrict Collector of Ramanathapuram, Tehsil office staff, Municipal office staff, DBC team and HHIDS team (150 volunteers in total) participated in the programme conducted at Agnitheertham.

Herbal Garden (MuligaiVanam)
Asthisamhara(Pirandai)

Dr. A. Abirami
Programme Officer
C.P.R. Environmental Education Centre
Chennai
Botanical Name : Cissusquadrangularis Linn
Tamil Name : Pirandai, Perandai
Sanskrit Name : Asthisamhara
English Name : Edible stemmed vine.
Distribution and Habitat


Green Health
By Green Rameswaram Trust


Sister Saraswathi interacting with the audience
Moringa Saplings Distribution for Nutrition and as a remedy for Anaemia
We have received 650 Moringa Saplings from Horticulture Department on 4 October 2019. Immediately through our volunteers we have arranged distribution of 200 saplings in Ramakrishnapuram. The function was held at Ramakrishna Kudil. Around 100 women attended the function.

Shri.Madhu, Social worker planting a sapling in the Taluk office

Promoting Eco Tourism in Rameswaram Island
By Green Rameswaram Trust

Dhanushkodi-a rich ecological destination
Dhanushkodi,a deserted town on the Rameswaram Island or more popularly known as “Ghost Town” has played a significant role is shaping the overall Cultural Landscape of the island. Dhaushkodi,in the past was a flourishing township and a prominent place of pilgrimage; which rivaled Rameshwaram in size and population.
However, the cyclone, which struck the town 1964, destroyed the town in its entirety claiming over 2,000 lives. Post this, the town was declared unfit for habitation and was never re-built. One can see remnants of the pas in ruins a church, few temples, railways station, post and immigration office being partially covered with sand.


Hara Teertham with a well with cement concrete rings and beautiful steps which can be used for cleaning the Water body

Social Capital
By Green Rameswaram Trust

Teertha pooja in Agni Teertham and Kapi Teertham
Teertha Mitras (Friends of Water bodies), Shri.Nagarajan and Shri.Ganesan organized the Teertha pooja at Agni Teertham on October 13, 2019 - full moon day. Around 180 people including the pilgrims participated in the event. At Kapi Teertham around 20 people participated.
Mass Cleaning at Agni Teertham
On the occasion of Swacchhtha hi seva and Gandhi Jeyanthi, District Administration and Green Rameswaram organized a mass cleaning programme at Agni Teertham. Around 250 volunteers participated in the event on October 2, 2019. The entire event was spearheaded by Shri.Veera Raghava Rao IAS., District Collector, Ramanathapuram District.

Row of lamps lighted up for the Teertha pooja